Houston, Cissy

Houston, Cissy (September 30, 1933, Newark, NJ) Although primarily known as the mother of the famed vocalist Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston (born Emily Drinkard ) has made her own lasting impact on American gospel as well as on other genres of contemporary music, from rhythm and blues to disco. Her vocal style, while rooted in traditional African American gospel, frequently reveals a gritty, authentic edge that has made her a powerful performer of both sacred and secular songs. Houston’s…